Park Ward Winter Celebration

In December 2025, organisations from across Park Ward gathered at The King’s Centre for a Winter Celebration Event that recognised a year of progress in helping local people become more active.

Located next to the historic People's Park, the event brought together a wide mix of community organisations, services and volunteers who are all contributing in different ways to creating a more active Park Ward.

A shared goal for Park Ward

The gathering formed part of the ongoing partnership work taking place across the ward, where local organisations meet to share ideas, celebrate achievements and look ahead to what more can be done. The December event provided a chance to reflect on the progress made during 2025, while also starting conversations about priorities for the year ahead.

Attendees represented a broad range of organisations and services, including Green Spaces and Street Scene, local councillors, community groups and voluntary sector organisations such as St Augustine's Centre, Halifax Civic Trust, Friends of People's Park, Halifax Central Initiative, Newground Together, Horton Housing, Project Park, Calderdale College, Calderdale Cancer Aware and Unique Community Hub.

Colleagues from Yorkshire Sport Foundation also attended to learn more about the work happening locally, taking ideas and insights back to support other communities across West Yorkshire.

A powerful personal story

The event opened with a powerful personal story from Carlos, a refugee supported by St Augustine's Centre. Through encouragement from the centre and opportunities to get involved in local activities, Carlos began attending weekly boxing sessions.

Since then, he has not only stayed committed to the sessions but has also become a positive influence on others, often encouraging younger participants and leading by example. His story set the tone for the event, showing the real impact that accessible local activities and supportive communities can have on people’s lives.

The Active Calderdale way

Throughout the event, there was a strong focus on the principles behind the Active Calderdale approach. The strategy recognises that being active is easier when communities have safe, welcoming places to move, as well as encouragement and support from people they trust.

Partners shared how they are building conversations about physical activity into their everyday work. For example, the Calderdale Cancer Aware team explained how their collaboration with Active Calderdale has helped them promote physical activity during routine conversations with residents. Staff now have practical tools and resources to make these conversations easier and more natural.

Similarly, Newground Together described how they are supporting staff to feel confident, encouraging people to move more as part of their regular interactions with communities.

Creating more opportunities to be active

The event also highlighted the growing range of activities available locally.

Calderdale College shared details of its successful Midnight League football sessions, which provide a safe and positive environment for children and young people to play sport. Over 150 young people have taken part, helping reduce low-level antisocial behaviour while creating opportunities to socialise and stay active.

Meanwhile, Project Park spoke about their work engaging hundreds of women and girls at their hub on Raven Street. Activities there include gym sessions, fitness classes, cycling and walking groups, giving participants a variety of ways to get active.

Improving the places people move

Another important part of the conversation focused on the local environment. Over the past year, engagement sessions with residents and community groups have helped shape plans to improve several green spaces across the area.

These conversations are now turning into real improvements at People's Park, as well as at Wadsworth Common and Brackenbed. The vision for these spaces has been created with local people, helping ensure that the parks and green areas are welcoming, accessible and attractive places to spend time and be active.

Looking ahead together

By the end of the event, it was clear that the progress being made in Park Ward is the result of many organisations working both independently and collaboratively toward the same goal.

Reflecting on the day, Public Health Practitioner Anthony Whittaker said:

“Seeing so many partners, who are all playing their part individually and collaboratively, come together and add their piece to the jigsaw puzzle showcased the understanding that what we're doing is working.

We're all working together to create the right conditions that give local people the best chance to be physically active. We've seen how projects are community led, organisations are encouraging and supporting people to be active, and there are more opportunities now to be active in any way people choose. We'll continue working to create the best conditions possible for the people who live, work and visit Park Ward.”

The event served as both a celebration of the progress made during 2025 and a reminder that, by continuing to work together, partners across Park Ward can keep building a community where being active is easier and more accessible for everyone.